Mangaluru : The district disaster management committee on Thursday asked the New Mangalore Port Trust and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. to resolve between themselves the issue of setting up an oil spill disaster management system in New Mangalore Port.

The oil spill management system needs to be in place to prevent spread of petroleum product spill in the sea. NMPT claimed that the Union government would bear half the project cost, about Rs. 4 crore, while users of oil facilities would have to bear the remaining amount.

Accordingly, MRPL, being the largest user, would have to bear about Rs. 3.75 crore.

However, MRPL officials disputed the claim and pointed out a circular issued by the Ministry of Shipping in March 2015, which indicated that the remaining cost would have to be borne by the port. Following this, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim asked both the public sector undertakings to resolve the issue amicably. Meanwhile, an official of MRPL said the company has an oil-field disaster management facility at its single mooring point, about 15 km from the port, inside the sea. In any cases of emergency, the company was prepared to deploy this facility at NMPT and assist the port to contain spillage.

On the issue of a ‘no-flying zone’ over MRPL, the company informed the meeting that the Union government had informed such a declaration could not be made. However, the Centre had said it could be declared a ‘prohibited zone,’ and a communication from MRPL was being made.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ibrahim directed Mangaluru City Corporation to take some lessons from oil companies about maintenance of pipeline. He chided the corporation for ignoring maintenance of the water pipeline, following which the city witnessed an unprecedented water scarcity for five days.

MRPL Managing Director H. Kumar, and Venkatesh, Director (Refineries), were present.